Celtics and Cavaliers Shine, One Team Earns ‘F’

With the NBA regular season 25% complete, it’s time to hand out some grades. Every team in the NBA has played between 19 and 23 games, meaning the 2024-25 season is about 25% finished. (To be exact, 318 of 1,230 games have been played, so it’s 25.85% complete.) While storylines will surely shift in the next 20 games, the sample size is big enough to start drawing conclusions.

Top Performers in the East

The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers have stood out as the top teams in the Eastern Conference and earned ‘A’ grades. These two teams are setting the standard until proven otherwise.

1. Atlanta Hawks: B-

• Record: 11-11
• Offense: 21st | Defense: 20th | Net Rating: -2.6
• Reason for Optimism: Young players like Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Zaccharie Risacher bring excitement and future potential.
• Reason for Pessimism: Inconsistent performance on both ends of the floor.

Takeaway: The Hawks are hard to predict. They’ve beaten top teams but also lost to lowly-ranked opponents like the Wizards. While they show potential, finding the right team balance remains a challenge.

2. Boston Celtics: A

• Record: 17-4
• Offense: 3rd | Defense: 8th | Net Rating: +10.2
• Reason for Optimism: Their play over the past 14 months has been nearly unstoppable.
• Reason for Pessimism: Concerns over the health of Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.

Takeaway: The defending champions are on a roll, playing at a record-breaking pace. Their depth and shooting are unmatched, with a standout performance from Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard. The only real question is their frontcourt’s health.

3. Brooklyn Nets: B

• Record: 9-13
• Offense: 13th | Defense: 26th | Net Rating: -4.0
• Reason for Optimism: The team plays hard and physical under Jordi Fernandez.
• Reason for Pessimism: Questionable sustainability of their style of play.

Takeaway: Despite being expected to tank, the Nets have been competitive, especially with standout performances from Cam Johnson and Dennis Schroder. If they trade veterans for assets, they could reshape their roster for the future.

4. Charlotte Hornets: C

• Record: 6-15
• Offense: 25th | Defense: 17th | Net Rating: -4.7
• Reason for Optimism: Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball make a dangerous duo when healthy.
• Reason for Pessimism: Ball’s injury history raises concerns about his long-term availability.

Takeaway: While Miller and Ball can be potent together, the Hornets have struggled with injuries, and Ball’s frequent absences are a serious concern for their playoff hopes.

5. Chicago Bulls: C

• Record: 9-13
• Offense: 12th | Defense: 27th | Net Rating: -4.1
• Reason for Optimism: Rising rookie Matas Buzelis is showing potential.
• Reason for Pessimism: The team’s defense is notably weak.

Takeaway: The Bulls are in a tricky situation. With Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic performing well, they may opt to trade them for the future, especially with a potentially high draft pick looming.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers: A

• Record: 19-3
• Offense: 2nd | Defense: 9th | Net Rating: +10.1
• Reason for Optimism: New coach Kenny Atkinson has had a transformative impact.
• Reason for Pessimism: Shooting sustainability is in question, especially with 3-pointers.

Takeaway: The Cavaliers have been one of the hottest teams this season, highlighted by their 15-game winning streak. Their success is driven by a combination of strong offense (led by Evan Mobley) and a remarkable 3-point shooting performance, although it remains to be seen if they can keep it up.

7. Detroit Pistons: B

• Record: 9-14
• Offense: 24th | Defense: 14th | Net Rating: -2.6
• Reason for Optimism: Jaden Ivey has stepped up as a second star.
• Reason for Pessimism: Jalen Duren is underperforming.

Takeaway: The Pistons are showing growth compared to last season’s disaster. Ivey is playing well, and Cade Cunningham remains steady. But for a playoff push, they need Duren to get back on track.

8. Indiana Pacers: C-

• Record: 9-13
• Offense: 17th | Defense: 25th | Net Rating: -4.0
• Reason for Optimism: They have a talented, young roster.
• Reason for Pessimism: The defense is among the worst in the league.

Takeaway: The Pacers are struggling with defense but have a promising future with their young talent. They’ll need significant improvement on that end of the court to turn their season around.

Conclusion

As the season progresses, the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers continue to stand out with strong performances. Meanwhile, teams like the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls are trying to find consistency, while the Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets have room for improvement. The next quarter of the season will be crucial in shaping the playoff picture for these teams.